Pileated Peckerwood Just For Downy

[canonloader]

These guys are incredibly powerfull, easily able to grab a piece of bark and rip it from the tree. Try that with your teeth some time and tell me it's easy.

http://www.freeassociationblog.com/forumings07/perchers/woody/pileated1.jpg

No, these are not stray shots from Ma Deuce. This guy did it in about 2 minutes each.
http://www.freeassociationblog.com/forumings07/perchers/woody/pileated2.jpg

http://www.freeassociationblog.com/forumings07/perchers/woody/pileated3.jpg

http://www.freeassociationblog.com/forumings07/perchers/woody/pileated4.jpg

http://www.freeassociationblog.com/forumings07/perchers/woody/pileated5.jpg

http://www.freeassociationblog.com/forumings07/perchers/woody/pileated6.jpg

http://www.freeassociationblog.com/forumings07/perchers/woody/pileated7.jpg

http://www.freeassociationblog.com/forumings07/perchers/woody/pileated8.jpg

[downywp]

Amazing shots of the pileated, and I agree, their beak is like a massive drill!!:DI have seen them from a distance working the alders over here.

Now I have a question, I see these guys nearly everyday at my feeders, they are the most skittish bird on the planet :( Seriously, How do you manage to get so close to them?

[canonloader]

Seriously, How do you manage to get so close to them?
I am the Bird Whisperer. It's true. Birds have always been a very large part of my life since the year I got a baby chicken for easter. I've had Robins drop out of trees and land on my shoulder while walking to school. not once, but twice. I've raised several Red Tails, had pet crows and the year I was 16, 4 baby screech owls from the same nest flew into me while I was hanging laundry out to dry for my mother. Four of them smacked into me, learning to fly, and grabbed onto my T-shirt, hanging there upside down.

Dude, I have no idea what it is, but it's been almost 60 years of this. I no longer question it. :)

But this guy I have seen before and talked to him. He pretty much ignores me. ;)

[KTollig]

Nice shots well done

[downywp]

Yep you are definitely the Bird Whisperer alright!:D I have no luck with this particular bird even if I manage to get closer. Here you can have a good laugh, check out the flourescent "bokkeh" ;)

[canonloader]

Well, thats a fine close shot anyway. I'm sure it could be fixed in CS2. I'd love to get that close. :)

[eccles]

Nice. I always wondered where they got the cartoon from. The real thing is much better.

[canonloader]

He does look like Woody Woodpecker. :)

[wlaramie]

Great captures. Amazing story of your encounters with birds.

[njnightsky]

Great catch, they are one big woodpecker

[philc123]

Great series Mitch:)

[pttenn]

I knew that was true....the Bird Whisperer title is definitely yours. Amazing stories! You talked like anyone putting out peanuts would have birds eating out of their hand. NOT!
It is YOU, not the peanuts. Nice gift to have, huh?
Karen

[canonloader]

Thanks guys. Karen, it is a nice gift to have, except, I just don't want to believe in stuff like that. ;)

[TenaCJed]

Some more great pics. I really like seeing the different woodpeckers. I could sit and watch them for hours.

[canonloader]

Thanks John. I can't wait till spring gets here. I think I have a couple of possible nesting holes spotted. The chances are good since most of the trees in this one particular spot have been assaulted quite heavily. :)

[pttenn]

You can't deny the obvious. We all do the same sort of things but YOU have them in your hand, literally. Believe it!
Karen

[Reyno]

I've only seen this bird once before but wasn't able to take a shot. Very nice captures you've got there Mitch.

[Longjohns]

I love these birds, (Stupid statement.... Really I can't find a bird I don't love )
I have some beautiful acorn peckers that visit, they are so skittish.
I think I'll have to don some kind of bush in order to capture them.
...I definitely don't have the bird whisper thing going on.
Very nice shots Mitch.

[canonloader]

Thanks guys. :)

I've been giving this whisper thing some thought recently, and I think it's more that I just have such a keen interest and love for the birds that I am more aware of them in the trees than some. And maybe they can pick on that, just knowing I would never hurt them. Whatever it is, I enjoy it and am thankful to Canon for coming out with the gear to allow me to share them with others. :)

[bromm]

Great shots Mitch, I am going to get some of these this summer...hopefully. ;)
Are you sure its the whispers????? Maybe you just smell like a nut. :p

[canonloader]

HAHA, good one trevor. It's like that old joke, how do you catch a rabbit? Jump in the bushes and make sounds like a carrot. :D

[bromm]

HAHA, good one trevor. It's like that old joke, how do you catch a rabbit? Jump in the bushes and make sounds like a carrot. :D


:D:D:D:D

[Sindri Skulason]

Excellent shots. :-)

[dancad]

They sure are an impressive species. I have seen good sized trees with Pileated Woodpecker holes going straight through to the other side of the trunk.

[canonloader]

Thanks Sindri and Daniel. They sure can do a lot of damage. The section of the park I shot these in is mostly oak trees and some Cottonwoods. Almost every tree, alive or dead has these huge holles drilled in them. That can't be good for the tree. :)

[kr88]

Very nice series Mitch. When I hear them clucking away, they get my undivided attention. Love to get shots of them...Yours is a fine series! Nice work.

[canonloader]

Thanks Keith. This is the second time I've got shots of him in this same spot. Seen him a few other times, but didn't get shots. I think he may be around more than I know about and I'm determined to get some better ones. ;)

[donlavange]

Do these things really get to be a foot and a half tall? Beautiful shots.

[morehtml]

I've got a bad pic of one with a 5 inch diameter limb almost severed. Good find they are hard for me to get close to.

[canonloader]

Don, this one is easily as big as a crow. A large crow.

Allen, what just astounds me is they can grab a piece of that oak bark and simply rip it off the tree. Ever tried that? I don't see how they can do it.

[guitarman3]

Great series, Mitch! I like the variety of perspectives you've achieved. I came up to a tree at the wetlands a couple days ago and spotted a woody on a tree but he took off right away. I waited for quite a while to see if he'd return, but no luck. I have great admiration for your ability (and others' on the list!) to get shots like these.

[canonloader]

Thanks Dennis, but I've seen this guy before, and photographed him (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=247950). Those shots were somewhat better. I definately plan to get some more of him and hopefully in better light. :)

[just pictures]

great shots! Toobad it's not the ellusive Ivory billed, you woold be wealthy.

[canonloader]

Yes, funny you bring that up. I just saw some pics today from a birding list I'm signed up with. They were from Cuba in the 40's and 50's. I guess a few have been spotted again recently. :)

[dale65bama]

Love your pics, canonloader. Sometimes the "gift" is a little strange. My brother must have a target aura that attracts seagulls!


Dale

[canonloader]

Hey Dale, thanks. I use to have a Volkwagen that attracted pigeons. :mrgreen: